Toy animals



Nov. 12, 1957 R. A. FORD 2,812,616

TOY ANIMALS Filed Dec. 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Richard A. Ford INVENTOR.

WW Z9 M R. A. FORD TOY ANIMALS Nov. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1954 Richard A. Ford I INVENTOR.

BY W

Patented Nov. 12, 1957 United States Patent like TOY ANIMALS Richard A. Ford, Kentfield, Calif. Application December 22, 1954, Serial No. 477,053

6 Claims. (Cl. 46-151) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in toys, and more specifically to improvements in the formation of toy animals.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved toy animal which is so constructed whereby it is relatively rigid and at the same time is soft and cuddly, as desired by small children.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fuzzy skin simulatingcovering for metallic frames of toys, the covering being of such a nature whereby it may be conveniently formed from skeins of yarn.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved toy animal which may be formed of twisted lengths of wire and covered by yarn whereby the toy animal is relatively simple to construct and is formed of readily obtainable cheap materials so as to be economically feasible. 1 i

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved frame for toy animals which is of such a construction whereby it may be easily and simply formed by twisting lengths of wire to form the legs, feet, body and head, as well as the neck of a toy animal.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a completed giraffe and shows the general details thereof;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the giraffe of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the manner in which the skin simulating covering is placed on one of the legs of the giraffe of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 1 showing the manner in which pompous formed of yarn are used to cover the neckportion of the frame;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the eye assembly of the giraffe of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a monkey formed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the frame of the monkey and shows the general details thereof;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of Figure 6 and shows the manner in which pompons are used to form a covering for the legs of the monkey of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9- 9 of Figure 6 and shows the details of the tail of the monkey ofFigure 6;

. Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated 2 by the section line 10-10 of Figure 7 and shows the details of the frame in the vicinity of the neck; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the eye assembly of the monkey of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figure 1 a toy animal in the form of a giraffe 10. The giraffe 10 is formed by a frame 12 having disposed thereon a suitable covering, the details of which will be set forth hereinafter.

Referring now to the frame 12, it will be seen that it includes a body portion 14 which has depending therefrom front legs 16 and 18 and rear legs 20 and 22.

- Extending upwardly from the body 14 is an elongated neck 24 which terminates in a head including upright horns 26 and 28 and an elongated nose 30.

In the formation of the frame 12, there is provided for the leg an elongated wooden rod 32 which has entrained thereon a length of wire 34. The wire 34 is tightly wound on the lower portion of the rod 32, as at 36, to form an exposed leg portion and is multiple wound, as at 38, to form the foot. The leg 18 is formed identical with the leg 16 and includes a wooden rod 40 having wound thereon a length of wire 42. The leg 20 is formed by a wooden rod 44 having Wound thereon a length of wire 46, and the leg 22 is formed by a Wooden rod 48 having wound thereon a length of wire 50. The wires 46 and 50 are twisted together to form a rear part 52 of the body 14. They are also twisted together to form an X-bracing 54 which extends between the upper ends of the four legs 16, 18, 20 and 22. Further, the Wire 50 forms a right side 56 and the Wire 46 forms a left side 50 of the body 14.

The four wires 34, 42, 46 and 50 are twisted together, as at 60, to form a base of the neck 24. Three of the wires extend upwardly in twisted relation to form the neck 24 while a fourth one of the wire is disposed rearwardly of the neck 24 to form a vertebrae simulating member 62. The vertebrae simulating member 62 includes spaced loops 64 which are intended to simulate vertebrae.

The three twisted strands forming the neck 24 extend upwardly into the head portion of the frame 12 and two of them are reversely wrapped and wound upon themselves to form the horns 26 and 28. The other of the three wires extends forwardly to form the nose 30 and terminates in a generally heart-shaped loop 66.

. Each of the legs 16, 18, 20 and 22 is provided with an identical fuzzy skin simulating covering 68. The covering 68 is formed by disposing a skein of yarn over the desired part of the leg and tying the individual yarn strands 70 together at vertically spaced intervals by the use of strings 72, as is best illustrated in Figure 3; A

I similar covering 74 is utilized to cover the extreme upper part of the neck 24 and the head,including the nose part 30 of the frame 12, as is best illustrated in Figure 1.

The body 14 and neck 24 of the frame 12 are covered by a covering in the form of a plurality of pompous 76. Each of the pompous 76, as is best illustrated in Figure 4,

is formed by short lengths of yarn 78 which are disposed about the neck 24 and tied together intermediate their ends by tie strings 80. The lengths of yarn 78 have their ends flared outwardly, and the individual pompous 76 are disposed in generally compressed relation so as to 3 give the body 14 and the neck 24 a generally fuzzy appearance. The loops 64 project rearwardly through the 'pompons 76 enclosing the neck 24.

bly, as is best illustrated in Figure 1, is secured to the covering 74 which forms the head of the giraffe 10. The eye assembly 82 includes a pair of spaced backing strips 84 which may be formed of felt or similar materials. Extending between the backing strips 84 is a length of wire 86 having mounted on the ends thereof beads 88 forming the eyes. The head of the giraffe 72 is completed by ear forming strips 90 which may also be formed of felt.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a monkey which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. The monkey 100 includes a frame, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 102, and a suitable covering which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The frame 102 is formed of three wires 104, 106 and 108.

The wire 104 forms one of the legs 110 of the monkey frame 102 and terminates at its lower end in a foot simulating portion 112. The wire 106 forms a leg 114 of the monkey frame 102 and terminates at its lower end in a foot simulating portion 116. One end of the wire 108 is twisted and bent to form a tail member 118.

The wires 104, 106 and 108 are twisted together and extend vertically to form a body 120. At the upper end of the body 120, the wires 104 and 106 extend in opposite directions to form arms 122 and 124 which terminate in hands 126 and 128, respectively. The wires forming the arms 122 and 124 extend vertically to terminate in a head frame 132 where the wires 104 and 106 are integrally joined, the wires 104 and 106 actually being portions of a single wire. The wire 108 terminates in a nose frame 130. A fourth Wire is Wrapped about the wires 104, 106 and 108 at the top of the body'120 to form a neck 134.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the details of the pompons 136 which are used to cover the legs 110 and 114, the body 120, the arms 122 and 124, and the head 132 of the frame 102. Each of the pompons 136 is identical with the pompons 76 and includes short lengths of yarn 138 surrounding an associated portion of the frame 102. The short lengths of yarn 138 are secured together intermediate their ends by tie strings 140. It will be noted that the ends of the yarn 138 are outwardly flared to give the pompons 136 their fuzzy appearance. Also, it is to be noted that the adjacent pompons 136 are in generally compressed relation to retain the fuzzy appearance.

The tail frame 118 is covered by a single length of yarn 142 which is wound about the tail frame 118 in closely adjacent coils to completely encase the tail frame 118 with the exception of the loop 144 at the extreme end thereof. This tail frame construction is obviously not limited to any particular animal.

Secured to the nose frame 130 is a short length of a skein of yarn 146 which includes a plurality of lengths of such yarn 146 which are free and outwardly flared to form a fuzzy nose. A. button 148 is positioned in the middle of the fuzzy nose formed by the yarn 146 to give the realistic appearance of a nose.

The head of the monkey 100 also includes a pair of eyes 150. As is best illustrated in Figure 11, the eyes 150 are separate and connected together by a length of wire 15?... The wire 152 is suitably secured to the head frame 132. in any desired manner, or may be secured directly to the pompons 136 covering the head frame 132.

It is to be understood that the particular eyes illustrated and described with respect to both the giraffe and the monkey 100 may be replaced by other type eyes, includingthe celluloid type eyes which are hollow and have disposed therein black disks which move freely about so as to be attractive to small children.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A method of forming skin simulating covering for toy animals of the type including a frame comprising the steps of stretching a skein of yarn over a frame, tying said yarn at spaced intervals, and cutting said yarn into desired lengths intermediate ends of the frame and intermediate the tied points.

2. A method of forming skin simulating covering for toy animals of the type including a frame comprising the steps of stretching a skin of yarn over a frame, tying said yarn at spaced intervals, and cutting said yarn intermediate the tied points, and flufling and distorting ends of said yarn to form pompons.

3. A toy animal comprising a frame, fuzzy skin simulating means covering said frame, said means being formed in sections, each of said sections including short lengths of yarn surrounding said frame, a tie string for said yarn securing said lengths of yarn together intermediate the ends thereof, said frame including an elongated tail frame, a covering for said tail frame in the form of a length of yarn wound thereon.

4. A neck construction for a toy animal such as a giraffe, said neck construction comprising a frame member, a wire having opposite ends connected to said frame at spaced intervals, said wire being spaced from said frame and having a plurality of spaced vertebrae simulating loops directed away from said frame, fuzzy skin simulating means covering said frame and concealing saidwire with said vertebrae simulating loops projecting from said skin simulating means.

5. A neck construction for a toy animal such as a giraffe, said neck construction comprising a frame member, a wire having opposite ends connected to said frame at spaced intervals, said wire being spaced from said frame and having a plurality of spaced vertebrae simulating loops directed away from said frame, fuzzy skin simulating means covering said frame and concealing said wire with said vertebrae simulating loops projecting from said skin simulating means, said skin simulating means being formed in sections, each of said sections including short lengths of yarn surrounding said frame and secured thereto intermediate the ends thereof by a tie string, said sections'being in opposed compressed relation with ends of said lengths of yarn diverging away from said frame to give a fuzzy appearance.

6. A four legged toy animal comprising a frame having four individual leg members, a body carried by said leg members, said body including cross bracing between said leg members and a peripheral frame element connected to said cross bracing, said frame element terminatinginto a: neckframe carrying a head frame, fuzzy skin simulating covering on said frame, certain of said covering being carried' 'by said peripheral frame element to provide a pair of adjoining rows of said covering to.

present a relatively wide body.

References Citcd in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

